Method of packaging of pipe fabrics

ABSTRACT

In this invention both edges of a pile fabric are simultaneously sewn, in the form of an Archimedean spiral, to rigid sheets such as heavy cardboard or plastic. A package for the storage and/or shipping of pile fabrics is formed of the following elements: 1) The rigid sheets to which the pile fabric is sewn form the side walls of the package. 2) A protective wrapper placed around the pile fabric is attached to the side walls. 3) The rigid sheets are held separated, so that the pile fabric does not sag, by (a) cardboard tubular separators, or (b) wooden sticks, or (c) the protective wrapper, or (d) a combination of these.

United States Patent n91 Frishman Mar. 19, 1974 METHOD OF PACKAGING OF PIPE FABRICS [76] Inventor: Daniel Frishman, 14 Castle Heights Rd., Andover, Mass. 01810 [22] Filed: T May 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 258,124

[52] US. Cl 206/51, 242/771, 53/3 [51] Int. Cl B65d 85/66 [58] Field of Search 53/3, 139; 206/50, 51;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007,649 ll/l96l Hart 242/77.l X 2.8l L248 10/1957 Hill et al. 206/51 Primary ExaminerWillie G. Abercrombie Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wilkinson, Mawhinney &

Theibault 5 7 ABSTRACT In this invention both edges of a pile fabric are simultaneously sewn, in the form of an Archimedean spiral, to rigid sheets such as heavy cardboard or plastic. A package for the storage and/or shipping of pile fabrics is formed of the following elements: 1) The rigid sheets to which the pile fabric is sewn form the side walls of the package. 2) A protective wrapper placed around the pile fabric is attached to the side walls. 3) The rigid sheets are heldseparate'd, so that the pile fabric does not sag, by (a) cardboard tubular separators, or (b) wooden sticks, or (c) the protective wrapper, or ('d) a combination of these.

'3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDIAR 19 m4 3 797' 647 SHEET 1 0F 2 SHEET 2 OF 2 l I METHOD OF PACKAGING OF PIPE FABRIC Heretofore in the art of storing or shipping pile fabrics numerous attempts have been advanced to solving this problem by way of example the more recently issued U.S. Pat. to Schwartz No. 3,071,246 and the US. Pat. to Kessler No. 2,976,987 show spaced apart end members having hooks or other means of grasping a fabric from radial points extending off of a central axis of rotation. In the prior art as the fabric is hooked to each end wall or frame member as one progresses from the center of rotation of the frame to the outer edges the unsupported distance between the points of attachment of the fabric to the frame increase in distance which results in a sagging of the fabric and contact between superposed layers. Attempts have been made by tensioning and pulling the fabric taut to the hook devices of the frames to eliminate the sagging but when this has been done it has produced scallops which are equally undesirable in the selvege edges of the fabric.

The present invention provides for a uniform support between the end wall and the fabric along the entire length of the fabric; that is by spirally stitching the fabric to the end members, using stitches spaced a uniform distance of 2 to 4 inches, a uniform attachment between the end members and the fabric is maintained. As long as the end members are maintained a fixed distance apart and they do not slide relative to one another the fabric will remain taut and properly spaced to avoid contacts between superimposed layers.

The prior art structures involve the placing of the edges of the pile fabric into the metal hooks of a frame. As the frame is rotated the fabric is placed by hand onto the hooks, but is is difficult for the hand to judge the exact amount of tension needed to keep the fabric taut between the hooks on various legs of the frame. The expense of hand labor is a further disadvantage. At the commencement of hooking the fabric is relatively well supportedbut the distance between the rows as one proceeds upwards or radially outwards from the central axis of rotation of the frame to which the fabric is to be secured increases and finally the fabric may be supported only once every twenty inches. At this wide spacing the fabric sags and crush marks are formed as well as scallops developed along the selvege of the fabric.

The present invention eliminates hooking, sagging and scallopping as described hereinabove by the uniform stitching of the fabric to the end members which are maintained in spaced taut relationship.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which like parts are denoted by reference characters throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a pile fabric coming off of a tentering frame and being stitched to two end walls of a storage or container.

FlG. 2 shows the fabric applied according to the method of the present invention in a container having square end wall members.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pile fabric swen to the end wals of a circular container and a protective cover passed thereover.

FIG. 4 shows an end member or wall of the container to which the fabric is applied in accordance with the present invention showing the generation of the Archimedean spiral in dotted lines.

FIG. 5 is a magnified schematic view showing the needle stitching the selvege edge of a pile fabric to an end member or wall of a storage and shipping container.

The method of the present invention consists of sewing the edges known as the selvege edges of the pile fabric to cardboard or plastic end pieces. Although a variety of materials may be employed a cadboard known as tri-wall or a rigid styrofoam sheet about an inch and a quarter thick while sufficiently rigid can be punctured by the needle of a sewing machine.

The edges of the pile fabric are sewn to the side of the end wall members defining the ends of the package or the ends of a storage unit using, for example a chain stitch. The sewing takes place simultaneously at both edges of the fabric forming an Archimedean spiral along each sewn edge. in this way the fabric can be supported from beginning to end with stitches equally spaced. The spacing between the stitches can be adjusted within broad limits but stitch sizes (the distance between points of attachment of the fabric to the rigid siding) of two to four inches in length give excellent support. The length of pile fabrics in the Archimedean spiral is approximated by the formula arr /t where r is the radius of the Archimedean spiral formed by the fabric and t is the separation between the layers of pile fabric. For example when r= 15' inchesar d t inchthe length of fabric isapproximately 39 yards.

In one embodiment of the invention the fabric is packaged as it comes off of a tentering frame. This is shown in FIG. 1. As the fabric 10 is removed from the pins of the tenter frame each edge 11 and 12 of the fabric is mechanically pressed against a rigid sheet, end member or side wall 13 and a needle 14 passes through the edge of the fabric 10 and the rigid sheet or end member 13. Simultaneously another element of the sewing device catches the thread on the needle and forms the stitch. The motion of the rigid sheet or end member 13 is controlled by electro-mechanical devices and the pile fabric 10 is sewn in an Archimedean spiral 10A. The end members and their spacer 15 are rotated by a motor 16 and a pneumatic control 17 permits the raising and lowering of the frame supporting the end members and spacer as the Archimedean spiral 10A is generated.

The fabric is sewn to and supported by the end wall members 13. The latter may from either a square or round end of a shipping container box as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. An outer protective covering 18 may be wrapped around the fabric and the edges of the end wall members to protect the fabric during storage and/or shipment. The wrapper is securely attached to the end members by staples and/or gummed tape. When a wrapper consists of stiff cardboard no other means is needed for separating the side walls but depending upon the relative cost of packaging materials it may be desirable to use cardboard tubes or wooden sticks to separate the end wall members 13 in conjunction with a thinner wrapping material.

The pile fabric is easily removed from the package. The chain stitch can be unraveled or the thread can be cut. In either case one can free the entire piece of fabric or only that amount which is required. Disposal of the packaging materials is relatively a simple matter since no metal hooks or frames are involved. The rigid end pieces and/or wrapping material can be packaged and returned to the pile fabric manufacturer for reuse.

The use of automatic equipment such as tenter frames to feed the fabric and sewing devices to attach the fabric to the side walls results in a saving of man power and a more uniform package. The close spacing of the points of attachment of the pile fabric to the side walls result in fabric delivered substantially free of scallop marks and crush marks. Lack of metal frames with hooks decrease the cost of packaging and problems of disposal are simplified.

What I claim:

I. A pile fabric transport and storage package comprising two end members, rigid spacing means connected to said end members, and pile fabric stitched at its selvage edges to said end members in an archimedean spiral from the center of said end members outwardly so that superposed spaced layers do not sag and engage one another to mark the pile.

2. A pile fabric transport and storage package as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a protective wrapper over the fabric and end members.

3. A pile fabric transport and storage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the selvege edges of the pile fabric are stitched to the end members every two to four inches along the path of the archimedean spiral and wherein said fabric is maintained taut by said rigid spacing means. 

1. A pile fabric transport and storage package comprising two end members, rigid spacing means connected to said end members, and pile fabric stitched at its selvage edges to said end members in an archimedean spiral from the center of said end members outwardly so that superposed spaced layers do not sag and engage one another to mark the pile.
 2. A pile fabric transport and storage package as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a protective wrapper over the fabric and end members.
 3. A pile fabric transport and storage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the selvege edges of the pile fabric are stitched to the end members every two to four inches along the path of the archimedean spiral and wherein said fabric is maintained taut by said rigid spacing means. 